Large Facility Greenhouse Gas Data Now Available

01/12/2012 |

Comprehensive greenhouse gas data reported directly from large facilities across the United States is now available through the EPA’s GHG Reporting Program. The data available from 2010 features information from facilities in nine industry groups, with over 6,700 facilities included.

Data on each facility includes location, industrial sector, type of GHG emitted, and more.

“Thanks to strong collaboration and feedback from industry, states and other organizations, today we have a transparent, powerful data resource available to the public,” says Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “The GHG Reporting Program data provides a critical tool for businesses and other innovators to find cost- and fuel-saving efficiencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster technologies to protect public health and the environment.”

Some highlights from the 2010 information:

Power plants were the largest stationary sources of direct emissions with 2,324 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mmtCO2e), followed by petroleum refineries with emissions of 183 mmtCO2e.

CO2 accounted for the largest share of direct GHG emissions with 95 percent, followed by methane with 4 percent, and nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases accounting for the remaining 1 percent.

100 facilities each reported emissions over 7 mmtCO2e, including 96 power plants, two iron and steel mills and two refineries.